| Abstract: | The mechanism of liver splanchnomegaly developed in rats bearing a transplantable pituitary mammotropic tumor which secretes large amounts of ACTH and prolactin has been studied. The results indicate that in the first phase of tumor growth liver enlargement could be due to hypertrophy, and later mainly to hyperplasia which overcomes hypertrophy. The adrenal glands were found to play an essential role in the process of liver splanchnomegaly because adrenalectomy prevented the disproportional growth of the liver. Evidence is presented showing that glucocorticoids are the dominant hormones responsible for the development of liver splanchnomegaly. |
